Arlen Specter To Campaign For Former Rival Joe Sestak

For the first time, Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter will campaign for Joe Sestak, the congressman who ended his hopes for a sixth term in the U.S. Senate after hard-fought primary campaign.

Specter will appear with Sestak at an event in Philadelphia on Monday that will also feature Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey and New York Sen. Chuck Schumer.

Just a few weeks ago, the most that Specter would say about his former rival’s campaign when asked by a reporter was, “I’m late for the squash court." (Presumably Sestak will receive a more forceful endorsement from his erstwhile opponent on Monday).

But with less than a month to go until Election Day, Specter -- an influential voice in Pennsylvania politics -- is closing ranks behind Sestak, who is trailing his Republican opponent, former Rep. Pat Toomey, according to recent polls.

Specter switched from the Republican to the Democratic Party in 2009, avoiding what would have been an uphill battle against Toomey in the GOP primary. But the Senate veteran went on to lose in the Democratic primary to Sestak in May.

News of Monday’s event -- a private fundraiser -- was first reported by the Philadelphia Jewish Voice.